The Game Of Life

By: Lianne Ritchie, PGA of Canada Head Professional

Throughout our lives and careers we are often faced with challenges to overcome. When the chips are down, it’s up to us to drive home the message that when we set our minds to accomplish something great, every goal is achievable, every climb is mountable, and every swing will get us closer to the hole.

For many golfers, the sand shot is the most intimidating shot in the game. With the wrong technique, a simple 10-yard shot can be turned into a 70-yard nightmare.

3 QUICK TIPS TO OVERCOME THE BUNKER BLUES

1. For the blast/explosion shot, the club enters the sand anywhere from one to three inches behind the ball, and the force pops the ball out of the bunker. The length of the shot determines how much sand to take. Take more sand for short shots and less for longer shots. Just be sure to take a solid swing with a full follow-through, and the ball will fly out and onto the green.

2. The ideal setup is to align your stance and body left of the target. The open stance encourages a strong outside-inside swing path. The amount you will align left depends on the shot you’re making. For a short shot, you might be 35-45 degrees left. For a longer shot, you might be 20-35 degree left. You don’t have to be precise, as long as you’re open.

3. Practise the explosion shot by drawing a five-inch circle around your ball in the sand. Set up to the ball, placing your club at the outer perimeter of the circle. As you hit your shot, ignore the ball and concentrate on blasting the inner circle out of the sand. If you’re successful, the ball will fly out.

THE BENEFITS OF GOLF: PAR FOR THE COURSE

HEALTH BENEFITS

Playing, learning and enjoying golf is a great way to get exercise while being in the open air. Golfing increases the desire to be fit so that one can play better. The game is also known to significantly reduce stress levels, as it forces you to focus on the game rather than on work and home life.

SOCIAL BENEFITS

Members of a golf club have endless opportunities to meet people that share passion for the game. Having friendly or serious competitions or sharing a meal after your round are just some perks that come along with being a golfer. It is often said that Members join for the golf and remain for the lifelong friendships.

NETWORKING BENEFITS

It is no secret that the golf course has become an extremely popular place for business networking. Meet new people, host clients and build connections outside the boardroom. Ladies’ Golf Club provides a place for women of all golfing abilities to play, learn and enjoy the game of golf in a private setting.

Ladies’ Golf Club of Toronto was founded in 1924 by renowned Canadian Golf Hall of Fame Member, Ada Mackenzie. This unique oasis is located at 7859 Yonge Street in Thornhill, Ontario.

The Club is thrilled to welcome Lianne Ritchie as their new Head Golf Professional. Lianne comes with an extensive background in the industry and spent the past 17 years as Head Professional/General Manager at Scarlett Woods. For more information, visit ladiesgolfclub.com, call 905-889-3531 ext. 406 or email lianne@ladiesgolfclub.com.